troisième
/tʁwa.zjɛm/
Grade 9 in French is troisième.
The term refers to the ninth year of formal education in a school system.
Which one should you use?
You can also use the abbreviation 3e or 3ème to refer to it.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the phrase la troisième refers specifically to the final year of collège (middle school) before students enter lycée (high school).
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /tʁwa.zjɛm/ and has two syllables.
When do people say it?
In the French education system, la troisième is the specific name for the last year of middle school.
Did you know?
- Students in la troisième often take a 'stage d'observation', a short mandatory internship where they spend a week shadowing a professional in a workplace.
- In France, students in la troisième take a national exam called the brevet to certify the end of their middle school studies.
- Students in la troisième must choose a specific path for the next stage, deciding between a general, technological or professional lycée.
Examples in context
- Mon frère est en neuvième année.My brother is in grade 9.
- Ma sœur est en troisième cette année.My sister is in grade 9 this year.
- Il est en troisième.He is in grade 9.
- Les élèves de troisième ont un examen.The ninth grade students have an exam.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their younger siblings at a cafe.
- HugoTon frère est en quelle classe ?What grade is your brother in?
- ChloéIl est en troisième maintenant.He is in grade 9 now.
- HugoAh, c'est une classe difficile.Ah, it is a difficult grade.
- ChloéOui, il travaille très dur.Yes, he works very hard.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry troisième, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
